We’re tackling challenges with computerized school selection system – GES

The Ghana Education Service (GES), has indicated that it is devising measures to address challenges associated with the Computerized School Selection Placement System (CSSPS).

The CSSPS has over the years been fraught with challenges.

Parents and candidates have over the years complained that postings fail to take cognizance of their preferences. The situation is not different this year (2018) as Citi News reports from some regions have highlighted similar challenges.

Citi News’ Ashanti Regional correspondent, Hafiz Tijani, reported that a visit to some internet cafes saw parents and their wards sit in queues to go through the process.

He said some of the candidates who were not placed in any of their selected schools are required to begin the application process to choose schools for the second time.

The students expressed worry over what they described as the unstable nature of the system.

Deputy Public Relations Officer for the GES, Isaac Asiedu Odei on Citi TV’s Point of View however said the Education Ministry has temporarily resorted to the manual system of placement to tackle these challenges.

“Ordinarily, to get away from the issue, we introduced the electronic system where you can sit in the comfort of your home and check your placement, but we are encountering some systemic issues. Our IT guys promised that it will be smooth but we realized that based on enormous pressure, the system might have collapsed so we are now resorting to the manual system so from tomorrow, we have sent manual chips to the cafes and rural banks for people to have access to them ..The problem will be resolved by tomorrow.”

About Sixty-seven thousand three hundred and eighty two (67,382) students who qualified for senior high schools (SHS) could not be placed under CSSPS this year (2018)

This is because they could not be matched with any of their school choices.

They have however been asked to do self-placement to get themselves into schools with vacancies.